Yo! I'm Metal (Michael O. Wieclaw), Albuquerque-based creative/communicator. I do a lot of different things with my life, but my main focus is art both personal and professional. Most of my work is digital illustration printed on apparel and paper media; however, I'm continually working on my style and other forms of expression. I consider myself versatile in commercial art / branding / marketing. As a creative, I continually learn, observe design trends, stay out of my comfort zone and maintain a positive mental attitude. The style i'm expanding upon is the use of symbols, symmetry, sacred geometry in the execution of compositions with a cryptic / iconic feel. It's a departure from drawing food all the time.

NEWS / LATEST WORK

Marigold Parade 2014 Theme Crest

In Albuquerque, NM for Dia Da Los Muertos if you're not at the Marigold Parade, there's something wrong with you. The event takes place in the South Valley of ABQ, arguably one of the most beautiful parts of it, patrons marvel floats, costumes and a arts and crafts fair at the end of the parade! For the event, I created a limited to 30 screen printed illustration of that year's theme "El Auga. Es La Vida. No Se Vende. Se Defiende." Meaning water is life, we don't sell it we defend it."

TORGV 2014 Cycling Jersey

Designed for the Bicycle Coalition of New Mexico's annual event the Tour of the Rio Grande 2014 bicycle century. Riders had the option of ordering these made-to-order garments from Voler Cycling Apparel.

Coachella Record Store Mural

Since 2009, I've worked the Coachella Valley Music Festivals / Stage Coach Country Music Festivals as a merchandise / product line manager for both artist and event merchandise. In 2015 I asked my manager and the manager of the record store if i could do a mural. Goldenvoice, production company that puts on Coachella, flys out artists from all over the world to do this. I was given a "yes." Within 24 hours i came up with a patterned stencil design of a record, cassette and old gen ipod, bought supplies and executed the design while frantically preparing for weekend one merch operations. Sincerely one of the coolest things I've ever done and being the first time I've done anything like this. Throughout both weekends, thousands of people saw it and some took pictures with it and posted to instagram. Seriously cool shit.

Amanda Clark Memorial Prints

On May 24, 2015 my friend Amanda Clark died of cardiac arrest. It was incredibly sudden and beyond a doubt one of the most heart breaking moments of my adult life. Amanda was the most insane, selfless and loving person. The true glue between a lot of people in Albuquerque. Before her passing, she had asked if i would draw her two tattoos. A melting butter stick and salt and pepper shakers. I took these illustrations and made memorial prints where profits go to benefit the Clark family.

Cryptic Crystal Owl

Mo, singer of Albuquerque, NM rock band Beard, was like, "Mikey, yo, so we want you to draw-up something awesome for a new t-shirt. We don't want to see it. The first time we should see it is when you bring us the shirts." I was like, "ya, I'm down." After designing and printing the t-shirts myself, they came to pick them up. Mo: "I literally started crying when I saw how cool they were. Thank you!" DESIGN / MEANING: I've been drawing this sort of mechanical owl that is inspired by Athena's owl in the 1981 film Clash of the Titans. It was mostly thumbnails and small doodles. Beard gave me a chance of making something I knew would be cool, cool.